The Federal Government on Tuesday received another batch of 269 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, reaffirming its commitment to protecting citizens abroad amid renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in the country.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, aboard an Air Peace flight and were received by the Director of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe, on behalf of the Federal Government.
Their arrival comes against the backdrop of recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa over the years, during which several Nigerians have been killed, injured or displaced, while businesses owned by foreign nationals have also been targeted. Renewed concerns followed reports of the killing of a Nigerian popularly known as “Big Joe” on Sunday, prompting fresh calls for stronger protection of Nigerians residing in the country.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ali-Gombe conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s message of solidarity to the returnees and assured them of the government’s continued commitment to their welfare.
“President Bola Tinubu extends his greetings and assures Nigerians abroad that the Federal Government remains committed to their safety, welfare and protection,” the statement quoted the ambassador as saying.
The ministry said the latest flight was the second evacuation exercise from South Africa, bringing the total number of Nigerians voluntarily repatriated to 335.
It explained that the evacuation followed the June 30 deadline set by South African authorities for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country under an ongoing voluntary repatriation programme.
According to the ministry, the evacuation remains voluntary and is being coordinated with the relevant South African authorities to facilitate the safe return of Nigerians who chose to come home.
“The Federal Government will continue to engage the South African authorities to ensure the safety and protection of Nigerians living in South Africa, while the voluntary evacuation process remains ongoing,” the ministry stated.
It added that additional evacuation flights are expected in the coming days to bring back more Nigerians who have completed the required screening and clearance processes.
Nigeria and South Africa have maintained longstanding diplomatic and economic relations, but those ties have periodically come under strain following repeated xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
The Federal Government said it would continue to pursue diplomatic engagement with South African authorities while providing consular support to affected citizens, as voluntary repatriation efforts continue.
